Fun in the sun! This is where it’s all happening. Coastal Rowing is relatively new to South Africa but it is poised to take the beaches by storm.

Coastal boats are wider than their flat water cousins and not as quick (but quicker than you’d expect) but they are far more forgiving and the ideal place to learn to row properly. We have nearly 600 km of coastline in KZN just waiting for you to explore it

From beach competitions to world championships. From Sunday morning whale watching to tours this is the place to be

Rowing is the chief discipline in the sport and encompasses many sub categories. The main sport of rowing is divided into two styles called Sculling and Sweep.

In sculling, the body movement is symmetrical (the body travels in a linear direction in the centre of the boat) and the sculler holds the handle of a sculling blade in each hand. – Sculling originated as a means of travel with the participant standing upright in the stern of the boat with the oar locked in a rowlock in the middle of the transom. The oar was ‘stirred’ in a figure of eight pattern to achieve propulsion

In sweep, the body movement is asymmetrical (the body moves to one side of the boat) and is counter balanced by a partner. The oarsperson has a single blade attached to a single handle which is held with both hands. Sweep rowing dates back to the Romans, Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egyptians and attained its pinnacle with the Romans developing the quinquereme, a battleship with five decks of oars on each side.

So you’re in a wheelchair now what? Row across the ocean, yup that’s right there are now para rowers competing in the Atlantic Challenge from the San Sebastian to Antigua. OK so you don’t have to do that but what’s stopping you giving rowing a try?

The biggest enjoyment para rowers derive? Being free from the chair. On the water you are the same height as everyone else. You compete at the same regattas as able body rowers, including World Championships

Adaptive Rowing (since renamed Para Rowing) was included in the 2008 Beijing Paralympics for the first time and South Africa was a founding participant. SA has attended every Paralympics since and achieved a 5th place in Rio. Sandra Khumlo (AS1xW) hails from KZN she came 10th in Rio

There are 3 categories in Para rowing divided chiefly according to the region the athlete has mobility